Mountains vs. Beaches
Indian travelers are seeking respite from the scorching summer heat, leading to a 40% year-on-year increase in summer travel. While the ongoing elections have slightly impacted corporate travel, hotels are witnessing a surge in retail business.
- Northern India residents are heading to the hills to escape the heat, while city dwellers are opting for nearby tourist destinations.
- Industry experts estimate a 30-40% increase in summer travel compared to last year.
- MakeMyTrip reports a 20% growth in family travel and a 10% increase in solo travel compared to 2023.
- Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir, Goa, Kerala, and the Northeast are the most sought-after destinations.
- Royal Orchid Hotels reports a 20% increase in retail business compared to last year.
- Hill hotels, resorts, and leisure destinations are experiencing increased occupancy.
- Mashobra's retail business has increased fivefold, Mussoorie's has doubled, and Goa's has witnessed a 50% jump.
- OYO reports a higher preference for beach destinations (53%) compared to mountains (47%) in May and June bookings.
- Goa remains the most popular beach destination, followed by Varkala, Pondicherry, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- However, early June trends indicate a shift towards mountains, with Nainital, Rishikesh, Manali, Mussoorie, and Darjeeling leading the list.
- The Election Commission's campaign to encourage voting has led to a surge in air travel as citizens travel to their hometowns to cast their votes.
Overall, summer travel in India is booming, with both mountains and beaches attracting travelers. While the initial preference was for beaches, the trend seems to be shifting towards mountains as the summer progresses.